There is an increasing number of San Antonio businesses and agencies providing varying kinds of support for people affected by the May 24 Uvalde school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults and left several other people injured.
Many area for- and nonprofit groups have been mobilizing to assist Uvalde families and other community members directly or indirectly connected to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Authorities said law enforcement officers killed the 18-year-old lone shooter.
Grocery chain H-E-B announced it is committing $500,000 to aid the Uvalde community. Additionally, H-E-B Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop and Mi Tienda customers may contribute by making monetary donations in store at the register for $1, $3, $5, $50, or $100 or at checkout in curbside and home delivery orders. People also can give directly via the Favor app after checkout, according to a company statement.
H-E-B officials said monetary gifts will go into the Spirit of Giving Fund, a nonprofit created by the grocer following Hurricane Harvey and the 2017 Sutherland Springs, church shooting. Additional donations can be made at heb.com/donate to benefit the Robb Elementary shooting victims and their families, the grocer said.
H-E-B also said it will provide meals, supplies and other resources to community support centers, first responders and Uvalde CISD, and it also plans to work with nonprofits extending help to those in need.
Winell Herron, H‑E‑B group vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs, offered words of support to those affected by the shooting.
“Our hearts go out to all the families during this tragic and painful time. Our neighbors in Uvalde, including many of our H-E-B Partners, have connections to someone touched by this tragedy,” Herron said.
San Antonio Food Bank said it has been providing meals to teachers and counselors at the Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde.
South Texas Blood and Tissue said May 25 that it had received more than 600 blood donors since news of the shooting first broke.
STBT said donor room appointments are booked through May 28, that walk-ins are being accepted as space allows and that appointments were still available for the organization’s Memorial Day blood drive set for May 27-28. For details, visit www.biobridgeglobal.org/event/memorial-day-fun-fest or call 210-731-5590.
University Health Foundation has created a Uvalde Victims Relief Fund to support families whose loved ones are being treated at University Health.
According to the foundation, donations will cover unpaid medical expenses and other needs identified by social workers. Unspent funds will be donated to Uvalde-area charities who are involved in ongoing relief efforts, the foundation said. Donations can be made at https://bit.ly/38SN7Fn.
San Antonio’s University Hospital, the area’s lone Level I trauma center, said it has been treating three children and one adult wounded in the shooting.
San Antonio Area Foundation has launched the Uvalde Strong Survivors Fund to aid victims and survivors in partnership with the National Compassion Fund. Donations can be made to https://saafdn.fcsuite.com/erp/donate.
Elsewhere, Amaretti Coffee at 1800 Broadway St., Ste. 1131, said it will donate 100% of profits through end of business May 26 to shooting victims and their families.
Also, according to coffee shop San Antonio Gold, a plush toy drive is underway citywide to help Uvalde children cope with stress and sadness. Stuffed animals and other plush toys may be dropped off at the following San Antonio locations:
- Alley Cat Coffee, 317 Probandt St.
- Cigar Pointe, 19186 Blanco Road, Ste. 101
- Folklores Coffeehouse, 359 Bustillos St.
- Folklores Coffeehouse, 1526 E. Grayson St.
- Friends of Sound, 700 Fredericksburg Road
- Indy Coffee Club, 7114 UTSA Blvd., Ste. 103
- Jaime’s Place, 1514 W. Commerce St.
- Lighthouse Lounge, 1016 Cincinnati Ave.
- San Antonio Gold, 1913 S. Flores St.
- Southtown Vinyl, 1112 S. St. Mary’s St.
